Peel ended St Georges’ unbeaten start to the Canada Life Premier League on Saturday afternoon with an impressive 5-3 victory at Douglas Road.

In a topsy-turvy match in the west of the island, the Sunset City side came from behind to stun the visitors thanks to a hat-trick from star man Lee Gale as well as strikes from Dan Simpson and Daniel Bell’s 200th goal for the club.

Geordies has initially taken the lead through Jay Skelcher-Maxwell before twice levelling matters through Sean Quaye and Ash Higginbotham.

The Saints went into the match on the back of five successive wins and as the only remaining undefeated team in the league, whereas Peel were reeling from a heavy 5-1 defeat to reigning champions St Mary’s last time out.

And spectators would have been forgiven for thinking the writing was on the wall again for the hosts as Geordies took an 18th minute lead when Skelcher-Maxwell met Joey Morling’s inswinging corner to head the visitors in front.

But two goals in nine minutes galvanised Steve Falconer’s hosts as first Dan Simpson drilled a low free-kick past Glenn Walker to level the scores in the 35th minute, before Gale escaped down the right wing and delivered an inch-perfect cross to captain Bell who timed his run into the box to perfection to thump home an unstoppable header.

The strike was Bell’s 200th for the club - his 160th for the first team - and came in his 477th appearance, 406th for the first team.

But just when Peel thought they would be taking a lead into the interval, Geordies struck back when Quaye met another inswinging corner with a downwards header which bounced up and over goalkeeper Andy Ball and Daniel Lace on the line to leave the scores locked at 2-2 at the break.

The visitors weren’t level for long though, as Peel retook the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Geordies failed to deal with a long ball, allowing Gale to steal in and coolly lift an effort over the advancing Walker and into the net for 3-2.

St George’s responded well to going behind and should have equalised twice in quick succession when first substitute Furo Davies glanced a header just wide, before Connor Hislop cut inside from the left and cannoned a brilliant, speculative effort against the underside of the Peel crossbar.

Chris Bass Sr’s men weren’t to be denied another goal and three minutes later Hislop again escaped down the left flank and cut the ball back to the lurking Higginbotham to turn home from close range and make it 3-3.

Geordies were then thankful to Walker who kept his side in the contest just after the hour mark when he produced a stunning one-handed save to deny Rhys Oates after the reigning IoMFA Player of the Year had been released by Simpson.

It wasn’t long before Walker was beaten again though when Gale charged down the left wing and, spotting the Geordies goalkeeper off his line, the Peel No.7 audaciously curled a sublime effort over the stranded shot-stopper and into the far corner of the net from 25 yards out.

The westerners killed the game off five minutes later when Oates did well to create some space near the halfway line before sending Gale scampering through on goal who duly kept his composure to slot the ball past Walker to make it 5-3 and complete his hat-trick.

The hosts nearly grabbed a sixth late on when Bell had an effort cleared off the line by Joel Ibanez before play was recycled and Gale’s effort was met by a sliding Oates at the back post but, on the stretch with the goal gaping, the striker’s shot crashed back off the woodwork.

The miss mattered little and the full-time whistle soon sounded, with Peel joyous as they sent out a statement to their rivals by ending Geordies’ perfect start to the campaign.

The other game in the top flight saw Rushen United record a 3-1 victory at home to Douglas Athletic courtesy of a Jamie Johnston double and a goal from Ryan Crawley on his 200th appearance for the club.

Mikey Callister netted the consolation for the Pinks.

Only three games survived the weather in JCK Division Two as well, with Onchan edging past Ayre United by the odd goal in five in Andreas (see report on opposite page).

Elsewhere, Union Mills continue to lead the way at the top thanks to a comfortable 6-0 win away at Douglas and District through double salvos from Colm Garrity, Luke Booth and Matty Cain.

Just around the corner on Victoria Road, Braddan claimed a high-scoring victory over near neighbours Governor’s Athletic 6-4. Lee Currer and Tom O’Neill both scored twice for the Swans and were joined on the scoresheet by Ben O’Neill and Matthew Ogden.

The Isle of Man Football Association’s Under-18s team successfully negotiated their way through the first round of this season’s FA County Youth Cup on Sunday.

The junior Men were in action at Vauxhall Motors FC’s Rivacre Park ground in Ellesmere Port to take on their Cheshire League counterparts.

The match didn’t get off to the best start for the Manx side as the hosts took an early lead from the penalty spot.

But the visitors grew into the game and Isle of Man centre-back Callum Sherry netted an equaliser just before half-time.

Again though, the English side started the second half the brighter and retook the lead following a corner, only for Sherry’s defensive team-mate Charlie Gibson to level matters five minutes from the end to send the match into extra-time after the hosts had been reduced to 10 men.

The Manx side edged in front for the first time in the game when Jack Camarda made it 3-2 in the opening period of extra-time, before skipper Jacob Crook netted a breakaway goal with a neat finish late on to secure a 4-2 victory.

The Isle of Man will now face cup holders Manchester at the Bowl in a match which needs to be played by December 8.

Reaction and photos from Sunday’s game in this week’s Manx Independent, on sale Thursday morning.